It's never far away, that big box of Scotties Premium 2-Ply I have resting near my TV. It's my companion for two weeks as I hunker down for the best reality show on Earth.
Ever since I was old enough to remember, I have watched the Olympics. From the opening ceremonies, to the agony and ecstasy of losing and winning, to the extinguishing of the flame, the Games have captivated my imagination.
I'm no longer interested in stories about polluted water, the Zika virus, crime, Brazilian politics and Russian doping scandals. The 2016 Rio Summer Games are on and I'm all in.
The Olympics are an investment of time and energy.
Thankfully, CBC's coverage is outstanding and we can watch the action live and on demand. In my house, no sport is off limits. Fancy a little table tennis, a fourhour cycling race, rowing, archery or judo? It's all interesting and educational.
Ask me the difference between an orthodox and a penholder grip on a table tennis racket, or the technique used for a double back somersault pike on the trampoline, and I can tell you. However, I don't know why women wear bikinis and men must wear shorts and T-shirts during beach volleyball .
I am so impressed with the athletes at the top of their game, performing under pressure, pushing their bodies to the max and giving it every inch of themselves to be the best they can be when the world is watching.
Yet it's the emotional side of the Games that keeps me transfixed. It's the stories behind the athletes, the coaches, the family and friends, the neighbours, all the people invested to see our athletes qualify for the Olympics.
It's hard to stay composed when watching 16-year-old swimmer Penny Oleksiak's face the moment she realized she'd won the gold medal, seeing soccer star Christine Sinclair's tears after beating France, or Dutch cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten, who was knocked unconscious after she fell minutes from winning the women's road race, congratulating her teammate who brought home a medal.
And then there are surprises like the O'Donovan brothers, Gary and Paul from Cork, winning a silver medal in rowing for Ireland. Their winning strategy? Go as fast as you can and have steak for breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with plenty of spuds.
Politics always creeps in no matter how hard we try. Two selfie after a competition, which is competing gymnasts pose for a not unusual until you notice they are from South Korea and North Korea, and an Egyptian athlete refuses to shake the hand of his Israeli Judoka opponent, a no-no in a sport that demands utmost respect.
Our four Ladner and Tsawwassen Olympians didn't make it to the podium this time but they can be proud of strong performances with huge support back home.
These are the Olympic stories that inspire all of us to overcome obstacles and be the best we can be. It's the most exciting, unscripted drama you'll ever watch. I will continue to be inspired and teary with a tissue in one hand and a glass of chardonnay in the other. Go Canada!
Ingrid Abbott is a freelance writer and broadcaster who was never athletic.
